Giant caterpillars now being reared at animal centre

Thirty offspring of an exotic giant moth are being reared at a butterfly farm in Greater Manchester.

The moth, which has a wingspan of one foot (30cm), was discovered on a windowsill in Ramsbottom, Lancashire, by 41-year-old Jonathan Blackmore.

The family thought the large creature was a bat until it landed and Mr Blackmore's wife was able to look it up on the internet.

They identified it as a giant atlas moth, which is normally found more than 6,000 miles away in its native home of Malaysia, south east Asia. It is the biggest species of moth in the world.

Giant atlases do not eat and only live for a week, however, before it died, the Blackmore family took it to Animal World in Bolton where it laid eggs.

About 30 caterpillars have since hatched, which are now six inches long and are soon expected to make cocoons where they will incubate for about a year.

Centre manager, Mark Lightowler, said the moth may have been part of a private collection and escaped, or it may have been transported here in cargo.

He added that the caterpillars "will certainly be as large as the moth brought here."